Seaman monologue (Act 3) — Nero

Caesar, my news must plead for this intrusion. I was aboard the ship whereon the Augusta Set sail: when the roof fell, thy mother's maid Cried 'Save me! I am the Emperor's mother!' Straight Crushed under many a blow, she dropped and died. But silently thy mother Agrippina Slid from the ship into the water and swam Shoreward. With white and jewelled arms she thrust Out through the waves and lay upon the foam. We heard her through the ripple breathing deep, And when we heard no more, we watched her still-- Her hair behind her blowing into gold As she did glimmer o'er the gloomy deep; And all the stars swam with her through the heavens, The hurrying moon lighted her with a torch, The sea was loth to lose her, and the shore Yearned for her; till we lost her in the dark, Save now and then some splendid leap of the head.